The Proclaimer

The Christian And The Lottery

There was a time when the bulk of the American public considered gambling to be illegal and those that engaged in such practices were recognized as immoral and sinful.  Not so any more.  In fact, gambling is viewed today by millions of Americans as a viable form of amusement and entertainment. Even some who claim to be Christians are trying to justify going to the casinos to “get rich quick.”  Others, who might not go that far, do not oppose buying a lottery ticket and making a “contribution” to a worthy cause.  For any who might be playing the lottery, listen carefully.  Playing the lottery is gambling, and gambling is sinful!

Gambling by definition involves the “artificial creation of the risk of losing one’s own possession in an attempt through chance to gain the possession of another.”  At the very heart of the gambler’s motive is covetousness and greed.  God wants the Christian to “labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give to him who has need” (Eph. 4:28).  Gambling violates this important principle and command.  Not only so, God warns those who “are minded to be rich” and possess “the love of money,” for “some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Tim. 6:9, 10).

How can you practice the “golden rule” (Matt. 7:12) hoping all the while to win and take another’s money? You can’t.  Neither can you gamble and go to heaven, even if the game of chance played supposedly supports a “good cause.” 

                                                                                         -- Clark Dugger

The Proclaimer